20 jail inmates in fight; 3 injured

San Diego  About 20 inmates were involved in a fight Thursday afternoon at the George Bailey Detention Facility, injuring three of them and prompting a brief lockdown at the Otay Mesa jail, authorities said.

The incident began at 12:45 p.m. and was over in five minutes, said jail Lt. S. Hernandez.

Guards used beanbag and pepperball shots to subdue the inmates, he said. Three inmates were taken to the hospital. No deputies were injured.

The fight began when about 35 inmates were gathered in what is known as a “day room,” where they have access to telephones and televisions, the lieutenant said. The brawl involved black and Hispanic inmates, he said.

What prompted the fight was being investigated, he said.

“They just began fighting each other. As usual in jails, they break into racial groups,” Hernandez said.

He could not describe the injuries.

“I know that they were serious but not life-threatening,” he said.

Deputies were observing from a glass-enclosed tower in the inside room when the fight began. About 10 deputies responded initially.

The jail has nearly 1,600 beds, and current jail capacity is 1,465 inmates, Hernandez said.

The lockdown was lifted shortly for the entire jail, but the area where the fight began will be on lockdown pending results of the investigation, he said.